Beaufort County Council approves land buy, extends Kubic's contract

(Provided by Beaufort County) The location of an 88-acre tract of land known as Garvey Hall purchased for $785,000 through the county's Rural and Critical Land Preservation program.

The Beaufort County Council approved the purchase of an 88-acre tract of land near the headwaters of the New River and extended County Administrator Gary Kubic’s contract to 2015 after a closed session following its Monday meeting.

Known as the Garvey Hall tract, the purchase will leave a large swath of environmentally-sensitive land along the New River headwaters undeveloped at a cost of $785,000, or about $8,920 per acre. The property was picked up from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation through a foreclosure sale at 46 percent of its listed value, according to the county.

With the sale, the county effectively expands the New River conservation area, now 500 acres. Located just east of the New River and north of S.C. 46 across from Linear Trail, the land joins adjacent protected properties in Jasper County as well as 180 acres directly north of Garvey Hall.

“I think this is an excellent location for a public park with New River access across from Linear Trail,” he said.

After the purchase of 99 acres along the Okatie River in October, the county’s Rural and Critical Land Preservation program had about $4 million left from two past bond referendums. Voters blessed another $25 million in bonds last month with about 62 percent support.

Council also extended Kubic’s contract one year to the end of 2015 at the same salary of $172,000 after its year-end review.

“His desire was only to have his contract extended for a year as opposed to a big salary increase under a longer contract, and we felt like that was the least we could do,” said acting Chairman Paul Sommerville.

Kubic said he’s content with the status quo.

“I am satisfied with my working environment and I have no desire to change anything,” he said. “I just enjoy working for the county.”

Councilman Steven Baer stressed the decision on pay came at Kubic’s own request.

“It’s important to mention the no change in compensation is per his request and in no way reflects any negative aspect of his performance, because I think we all feel he’s doing an excellent job,” he said.

During the meeting Baer also led the charge against a $210,000 contract to study Hilton Head Island Airport terminal upgrades. The Federal Aviation Administration would cover all but $5,000 with a grant.

County officials say the terminal, constructed before the Sept. 11 attacks, can’t fully accommodate passenger security changes. The contract would design and bid improvements to the security area, hold room and restrooms while also completing designs of other terminal initiatives.

Baer cited declining passenger volume and an overburdened general fund in questioning the need for renovations that could cost upwards of $3.4 million — $167,000 of which would come from the county — without strong evidence that the terminal is inadequate.

“Folks, what we’re doing tonight is starting down the road of $3.4 million project that will blossom into $5 million for 167 people (traveling) each way (daily),” he said.

Kubic argued the study doesn’t tie the county’s hands or rob the general fund, pointing to newly instituted rules requiring the airport board to pay for any appropriations from the general fund. But he said he’d call for a meeting with the consultant — Talbert, Bright, and Ellington, Inc.— that would allow council to press for bare-bones improvements that simply address Transportation Security Administration concerns.